How to Fit a Breast Collar and Back Cinch

A breast collar and a back cinch are two pieces of tack that help to keep the saddle from slipping back or to either side of the horse. It allows for comfortable movement while enhancing safety during your ride. A breast collar is considered an essential piece of tack for some western riders.

A back cinch may not be necessary for every ride. Sometimes known as a rear cinch, bucking strap or flank girth, this piece of tack is primarily used for any situation where you need extra stability (like cattle events at rodeos or challenging or hilly trail terrain).

Use the following guide to learn how to properly fit your breast collar and back cinch for improved safety when you're on your horse.

Horse Breast Collar Fitting

Before going into the details about how to fit a breast collar on a horse, it's important to review some important safety tips:

• Don't duck underneath the horse's neck or get your head near the front hooves. Reach around the body instead or have a second person assist you.
• Have a handler hold the horse or tie the horse to a post or stable while you fit the breast collar.

Now, let's move on to the fitting steps:

1. Attach the top strap of the breast collar to the opposite side of the saddle first.
2. Pass the breast collar underneath the neck and connect it to the side you are standing on.
3. Reach down and grab the strap at the center of the breast collar. Pass it between the front legs and connect it to the cinch under the barrel of the horse.

The breast collar is properly fitted if you can just fit your fist between the front of the breast collar where the straps meet and the horse's neck. Along the sides, each buckle should be attached at the same hole on the strap.

Horse Back Cinch Fitting

Next, it's time to fit the back cinch on your horse. Use a similar safety technique as with the breast collar and avoid putting your head underneath the horse as you attach this strap.

Here's how to fit the back cinch properly:

1. Attach the back cinch to a rear billet or D-ring on the saddle on one side.
2. Pass the strap under the belly and connect it to the billet or D-ring on the other side.
3. As with the breast collar, the back cinch should be adjusted evenly on both sides to ensure that it aligns with the center of the belly.
4. Lastly, connect the back cinch to the front cinch to help maintain the correct positions for both.

When adjusted correctly, you should be able to just fit two or three fingers between the back cinch strap and the belly of the horse. It's very important to avoid a back cinch that's too loose since the horse's back legs, branches or other items could potentially get caught on the strap. If the back cinch is too tight, your horse will be uncomfortable and may be inclined to kick out.

These steps will help you easily adjust the back cinch and breast collar so your saddle stays in the correct position throughout any ride.